Cut-off sawing-machine



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. W. SURPRENANT & J. E. FERGUSON GUT-OPP SAWING MACHINE.

No. 391,344. Patented Oct. 16, 188.8.

W/ 7/VESSE8: I JIM/mink ATTORNEY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. J.W. SURPRENANT & J. E. FERGUSON.

IIVVE/VTOR. $11 M- Jul/MU ATTORNEY,

Patented Oct. 16', 1888.

GUT-OPP SAWING MACHINE.

(No Model.)

UNirnn VTATES JOSEPH XVILLIAM SURPRENANT AND JAMES E. FERGUSON, OF ASTORIA, OREGON.

CUT-OFF SAWlNG-lVlACHlNE ESPECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 391,344, dated October 16, 1888.

Aoplication filed May 7, 1858. Serial No. 273,031. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, JosnPH WILLIAM SURPRENANT and J AMES ERNEST Fnneuson, both of Astoria, in the county of Olatsop and State of Oregon, have invented anew and Improved Cut-Off Saw, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Our invention relates to a sawingmachine of the class used in mills and factories for cutting off or trimming the ends of timber and lumber; and the invention has for its object to provide a simple, substantial, and efficient ma chine of this character.

The invention consists in certain novel fea tures of construction and combinations of parts of the sawing-machine, all as hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of our improved cutoff saw. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a side View of the machine with parts in vertical longitudinal section on the line war in Fig. 2, and shows the counter-shaft and pulley from which the saw-shaft is driven; and Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 3 y in Fig. 3.

The metal frame or bed A of a machine of ordinary size for use in a mill for cutting off or trimming timber about afoot square will be about six feet long and two feet wide, and is bolted to the mill-floor B. The top of the frame is vertically curved lengthwise, and to it are fastened two parallel tracks or rails, O O, and preferably by means of bolts D, which pass through vertical slots (1 in lugs c, fixed to the traclcrails, which may thus be adjusted higher or lower on the frame.

On the angular or Ashaped portions of the tracks 0 are fitted the grooved wheels 6 of a carriage, E, having boxesf, in which is journaled transversely of the machine the shaft F, which carries the cut-off saw G, about three feet in diameter. The carriage is provided with an opposite pair of pendent lugs, h h, in which is journaled a shaft, h, carrying guard wheels or rollers H H, which run along the under sides of the tracks 0 C and prevent jumping of the saw-carriage from the tracks should the sawdriving belt I break. This belt runs from a pulley, J, on the saw-shalt F and through a slot, 1), in the mill-floor B to a pulley, K, on a counter-shaft, L, journaled bek low the door. To the lower or back end of the carriage E is fixed an upright bar, a, to the top of which is held by a couple of jam-nuts, e" e, the back end of a bar, E, forming a handle having a loop. 0, at its end next the front of the machine, where the operator stands, so as to enable the operator to draw the carriage up the curved tracks G O by the handle to bring the saw to and through the lumber or timber.

The top of the machine-frame A, the tracks 0 O, and the saw-carriage E are convexed or curved vertically and lengthwise in the arcs of circles having their centers about at the center of the counter-shaft L, a preferred length of radius from the saw-shaft F to the countershaft L being about ten'feet. The tracks 0 G are set somewhat cccentrically or tangentially to the curved top of the frame A, so that the ends 0 of the tracks are a little nearer the counter-shaft L than their ends 0'. This is an important feature of our invention, as in operating the machine, and when the saw-carriage and saw are brought or are allowed to run back to rest at or toward the ends 0 of the tracks after the saw has made a cut, the driving-belt I will slacken somewhat because ofy" the reduced distance between the saw-shaft and counter-shaft. By thus slackening the belt it and other parts of the machine will be saved from undue friction and wear when the saw is not cutting, and power will also be economized, and as the saw-carriage is moved forward toward the ends 0" of the tracks, and while the saw is making its out across or through the timber orlumber, the driving-belt will be automatically tightened to prevent slip of it and carry the saw through the timber with a quick and effective cutting action, the tightening of the belt being due to the gradually-increasing distance between the saw-shaft and counter-shaft, as will readily be understood. The downward and backward pitch of the curved tracks 0 makes the operators Work comparatively light, as the gravity ofthe saw-carriage and saw assists largely in moving the saw backward to position, ready to be again drawn forward by the handle E to make the next cut.

It is obvious that the tracks 0, curved and set eccentrically to cause the saw-driving belt to tighten as the saw moves forward to its work, as above described, may be fixed to the frame in these positions relatively to the counter-shaft L; but by making the tracks adjustable on the frame by the bolt-and-slot connection the ends of the tracks may be very easily and accurately set with reference to the belt to assure its tightening and slackening to the best advantage while the machine isat work, and any undue or excessive slackness of the saw-driving belt may also be taken up by setting the entire tracks farther from the countershaft. Hence the adjustable connection ofthe tracks to the frame is preferred in practice.

It will be noticed that by the use of our machine the heavy swinging frames on which cutoff or trimming saws are generally mounted are dispensed with and the vibrations occasioned by their use are obviated, and with advantages readily apparent to users of this class of machinery.

The machine may be made of any sizeto carry a saw of any preferred diameter as the nature of the work to be done may require.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The combination, in a cut-off sawing-machine, of a frame or support, a convexlycurved track held thereto and set highest at one end, a counter-shaft journaled below the track, a carriage traversing the track, and a saw journaled on the carriage and belted to the counter-shaft, substantially as herein set forth.

2. The combination, in a cut-off sawing machine, of a frame or support, a curved track thereon, a counter-shaft, a carriage traversing the track, and asaw journaled on the carriage and belted to the countershaft, and said curved track set eccentrica-lly, substantially as shown and described, whereby as the saw is moved back the driving-belt will slacken and as the saw moves forward to make a cut the belt will be automatically tightened, as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The combination, in a cut-off sawing-machine, of a frame or support, a curved track held adj ustably 0n the frame, a carriage traversing the track, and a saw journaled on the carriage and belted to the counter-shaft, and said carriage-track arranged ecoentrically, substantially as shown and described, whereby as the saw is moved back the driving-belt will slacken and as the saw moves forward to make a cut the belt will be automatically tightened, and whereby also the track and saw-carriage may be adjusted relatively to the counter-shaft to regulate the automatic slackening and tighten i ng of the belt and to take up undue slackness of the belt, as herein set forth.

JOSEPH WILLIAM SURPRENANT. JAMES E. FERGUSON.

Witnesses:

J. O. BozoRTH, ED. D. Owens. 

